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Sunday, December 29, 2013

Fallow Time

I don't think I've gone almost two months without posting since I started blogging in 2005. It has been a fallow time for me creatively- not only was the muse not communicating, I didn't even miss her much. I'm hoping that is changing- I do have some significant happenings on the horizon.A few months back I signed up for Weeks Ringle's Designing Modern Quilts class on Craftsy. I've taken several others, but hers is heads above the rest. It is not a project based class, but one with real meat for those who want to do their own design work. She made one point that has really spoken to me recently- you need the space, emotionally and mentally, to design. I just haven't felt that I have that space for the last couple of months. I'm still trying to figure out what I need to do to regain it, but in the meantime, I'm trying to at least show up in the studio. I have the next week off from work- it would be nice to accomplish a few things!On the family front, we had a lovely Christmas with more family here than we've had for a number of years. Michelle was beside herself- it was really fun experiencing Christmas through the eyes of a child again. Here she's modeling one of her new outfits, including those cute pink cowgirl boots!

The girl does like her bling!!I did do a little bit of dyeing a few weeks ago. When we got our first big snow storm, I couldn't resist doing some snow dyeing. Instead of starting with white fabric, I decided to try overdyeing some dogs. I was really happy with the results- I like them much better than other fabric I've dyed this way. It also helped me get rid of most of the dyes I've had sitting in my small frig since early last fall.

I also got a quilty Christmas present- a small sewing/embroidery machine. It is nice and lightweight, perfect for sewing on the road. And the embroidery module looks like it will be a lot of fun!

It fits nicely where my serger sits- so I will just swap them out, depending on what I'm working on. Once I'd done some samples on the embroidery, I decided to add a design to the corner squares on Michelle's pink quilt. For a small machine, it really does a lovely embroidery.

On the backing, I embroidered her name. No question who this quilt belongs to!

I've also started quilting my Tangled Textiles piece, hopefully I will get it done tomorrow. The reveal on those pieces will be in January- so no pictures until then.

On another front, my art quilt group will be part of a show at the Woodbury Art Museum, opening January 14. The museum is connected with Utah Valley University, although not located on campus. It will be up until early March, and I'm excited to have a chance to show some of my work closer to home. If you are in the area, come take a look!

2014 is looking to be a year full of changes for us. We should be empty nesters by summer- Shannon has been accepted into a nursing program in Grand Junction, Colorado, and will be moving by April. She's already started the process to get her massage therapy license in Colorado so she can make the move. Sean is in the last two months of his degree program. He has no idea where they could land, but we are all hoping he gets a job in his new field shortly after graduation. Change is definitely in the air!

4 comments:

Ah, Beverly - I am right there with you. Have not worked or felt like it for at least 6 months and am just beginning to get motivated again. Back to therapy strips and will see where they lead me. You are so right about space - mental and emotional are even more important than the physical space.

Sending hugs and my best wishes for renewed energy, creativity, and all good things in 2014.

I hope the new year with new changes gives you the energy and space you need to be creative again. I'm looking forward to the new year and new creative inspiration myself - been feeling fallow as well, but am starting to feel the old mojo again!Happy new year to you!

About Me

I've had a needle in my hand as long as I can remember. After thinking for years that my brother got all the artistic genes in our family, I'm discovering the joys of creating my own fabric with dyes, paints, and about anything else one can use to color on fabric. My fiber art truly is the therapy that sees me though my day job as a clinical social worker.